Material feeding apparatus



Jan. 19, 1932. A. 5. L158 MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mme/7f A 6 has 0% Way/y Jan. 19, 1932. 5, 155 1,841,488

MATERiAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 19, 1932. A. s. Llss U I MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M w i 6 $4M 7 v5 5 9 2 a w? x0 3 5 M 5 8 p g z w \x 7 k M 25 Z 2 4 E 4. H a z Z a 7 a Wye/770% 6 z/ss 77% 4i Patented Jan." 19, 1932.

,AJGUST S. LISS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC GOIEPANY,

INCQRPUBATED, OF NEW'YOBK; N. Y., A CORPQRATIGN 9F NEW YORK MATERIAL rename APPARATUS Application filed February 15, v1930. serial to. 428,5 2.

This inventionrelates to a material feeding apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for automatically feedingarticles of manufacture to material processing machines.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a material feeding apparatus which adaptable to various types ofprocessing machines and which will more efiiciently exproduction. V

In accordance'withthe general features of the inventiomthere is provided a material feedin a maratus em Jlovin a piston r'eci 1. v D .L

roosting in a cylinder in response to the opening and closing of air ports extending t. ereto upon the operation of two slide valves which are actuated independently in accordance with. the operation of pivotally mounted cams on the punch holder of the reciprocating part of a punch press. One of these cams is arranged to he efiective for operating its associated slide valve upon the .downstroke of the head of the press and inefiective on its upstroke, while the other cam is inefiective on its downstrolze and efiective upon its upstroke; 7

thereby properly controlling the inlet and exhaust ports to the cylinder to cause the piston to travel in the proper direction. The

7 piston, through suitable plungers, operates a yoke which moves a plate past an opening in a magazine, picks a part therefrom andqadvances the part alonga channel extending to: the die of the punch-press and repeating this operation during the reciprocal movement thereofso .as to feed successively the parts to i the channel and move the parts to the die.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the reciprocating punch holder and the punch removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2? of Fig. '1;

3 is a front .ele-va-tional view of the ap paratus; I

Fig. lis sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plansectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6- 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are .detail views of the article of manufacture shown respectively before and after a forming operation.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the nu-' moral 11 designates a suitable base at the for ward endof which is mounted die lolockl2 having suitable apertures 13 and letherein for receiving die plates 15 and i6 res ectively.

The die plates 15 and 1-6 are'rigidy held in the .die block 12 by any suitable means such as machine'screws 17 ,and'ha ve disposed therebetween a die plunger or knockout 1.8 which is disposed its lower end in communication with an aperture 24 of the cover 22 through which a feed o'lockor member 25 extends. The feed block 25 is rigidly mounted upon a reciproeating member .or yoke 26 and has a reduced portion 27 which provides an abutting shoulder 28 for a purpose jherei'nafterdesci'i'bed.

Disposed between jaw portions 29 of the yoke 26 is a piston 81, which is mova'bly dis posed in a cyl'inder32, and which has piston rods or stems 33 extending outwardly ingeneral alignment with each other and in axial alignment with, the piston .31 through apertures in cylinder heads 34-34 to abutting engagement with the jaw portions 29. The cylinder .32 as well as a valve casing 35am secured to and carried by the base 11. The piston '31 is actuated by any desired fluid such as air under pressure enterin he cylinder 32. The air under pressure is controlled by slide valves '36 and 37 which are respectively disposed in apertures 38 and 39 of the valve casing 35. Annular grooves 41 and 42 are disposed at spaced apart positions concentric with the slide valve 36 and are adapted to be moved into communication with spaced apart air ports and 44 which communicate with the ends of the cylinder 32 through the cylinder heads 34. These annular grooves are normally held out of communication with the air ports and 44 by a spring 45 which is disposed concentric with the valve 36, and has one end disposed in abutting relation with a collar 46 which is pinned to the valve. The valve 37 is also provided with annular grooves 47 and 48 which are adapted to be moved into communication with the air ports 43 and 44 respectively, but which are held out of communication with these air ports by means of a spring 49, the latter being disposed concentric with the valve 37 and having one end in abutting relation with a collar 51 which is disposed concentric with the valve and pinnel thereto.

The slide valves 36 and 37 are alternately actuated by cam levers 52 and 53 respectively, which are adjustably mounted upon a recip" rocating punch holder 54 by adjustable pivot blocks 55 and respectively, in which the actuating cam levers are pivotally mounte The adjustable pivot blocks 55 and 56 (Fig. 6) are provided with elongated openings 57 and 58 therein, through which a securing means such as machine screws 59 extend for adjustably securing the pivot blocks in place upon the rear portion of the punch holder 54 (Fig. 7). The cam levers 52 and 53 are normally held inwardly by means of springs 61 which are carried by the pivot blocks 55 and 56. Stop members 62 in the form of integral lugs are disposed adjacent the pivot ends of the cam levers 52 and 53 for limiting the inward movement of the cam levers. The lower end of the cam lever 52 is provided with an actuating cam surface 63 (Fig. 4) which is arranged to engage with an actuating cam surface 64 of the slide valve 36. The cam lever 52 is also provided with a cam surface 65 which is arranged to engage a cam surface 66 of the slide valve 36 for allowing the cam lever 52 to be moved upwardly without actuating the valve 36. The cam lever 53 is provided with a cam surface 67 (Fig. 6) which is arranged to engage with a cam surface 68 of the slide valve 37 for allowing the cam lever 53 to be moved downwardly without actuating the valve 37 The cam lever 53 is, however, provided with an actuating cam surface 69 (Fig. 5) which is arranged to engage with an actuating cam surface 71 of the lever 37 or actuating the lever 37 when the cam lever 53 is moved upwardly.

From the foregoing description in the various parts of the apparatus, the operation t iereof will be more clearly understood. In the present embodiment a plurality of parts or articles of manufacture, as indicated at 72, are disposed in the vertically extending magazine 23 so that the lowermost part will rest upon the feed block 25. Upon downward movement of the punch holder 54 the slide valve will be moved to the left (F 5) by the movement of the actuating cam surface 63 of the cam lever 52 over the actuating cam surface 64 of the valve 36. This inward movement of the slide valve 36 will. position the annular groove 41 in communication with the air port 43 thus allowing air under pressure to pass from an air supply hose 73, through an air passageway 74 in the valve casing 35 around the valve 36 at the groove 41 through the air port 43, and into the cylinder 32. lo entrance of the air under pressure into the cylinder 32 will move the piston 31 to the left and, due to its operative engagement with the yoke a similar movement will be imparted thereto, thus moving the feed blocl: 25 to the left (Fig. 7 so as to allow the lowermost part 72 to rest upon the reduced portion 27. This movement of the piston and its cooperating parts is effected during the time in which the annular groove 41 is in communication with the air port- 43, and during this time the annular groove 42 is positioned in communication with the air port 44, thus allowing the air which is in the cylinder 32, at the left of the piston (Fi 5), to pass through the air port 44, around the valve 36 at the groove 42, and through an exhaust port 75 (Fig. 2). The valve 36 is held in this position durin the engagement of the cam lever 52 therewith, and as soon as the cam surface 63 0f the cam lever 52 is free from the cam surface 64 of the valve 36, the valve will be moved into its normal position by the spring 45, thus moving the annular grooves 41 and 42 out of registration with the air ports 43 and 44 respectively.

Upon the upward movement of the punch holder 54 the cam lever 52 will be swung outwardly about its pivot by the engagement of the cam surface 65 thereof, with the cam surface 66 of the slide valve 36 without actuating the slide valve. However, during this upward movement of the punch holder 54 the cam lever 53 will move the slide valve 37 to the left due to the engagement of the actu ating cam surface 69 of the cam lever 53 with the actuating cam surface 71 of the valve 37. This movement of the valve 37 will position the annular groove 48 in communication with the air port 43 so as to exhaust the air in the cylinder 32 at the right of the piston 31 through an exhaust port 76 while the piston 31 is moved to the right by the entrance of air under pressure into the cylinder 32 at the left of the piston through an air passageway 77 from the air line 73 through the groove 47 and the air port 44. The piston, due to the air under pressure in the cylinder 32 at the left thereof, will be moved to the right, thus moving with it the yoke26and the feed block 25. As the feed block is moved relative to the magazine 23, the lowermost part 72 which rests upon the reduced portion 27 will be moved to the rightinto a passageway 7 8 heretofore described, allowing the next part to restupon the/reduced portion 27 and to be moved to the right by the movement of the feed block; in that direction so as to ad Vance the. first moved part toward the die platesl5 and 16. This operation is continued during the reciprocal movement of the punch holder 54 and the responsive movements of the piston 31 and its cooperating parts due to the actuation of the slide valves 36 and 37. The end parts; that is, the parts in the passageway 78 adjacent the magazine 23 and the die plate 15., are held against movement, other than that imparted to these parts due to the actuation of the feed plate, by retaining pins 80' and 81 which are normally held downwardly by a spring 82. During this reciprocatory movement of the part toward the die plates 15 and 16, the part at the delivery end of the passageway 7 8 will be moved so that its forward edge will abut a stop member 83 which is held in effective position'by a spring 95. This positioning of the part is brought about while the punch holder 54 and the punch 84, which is carried thereby, are in their uppermost positions.

The part remains in this position until the punch 84, during its downward movement,

(Fig. 7), moves the part into the aperture I between the die plates 15 and 16 against the spring pressed plunger 18, thus causing the forward edge of the part to be bent up wardly, During this downward movement of the punch holder 54: andthe punch 84 a projection or setting pin 85, which is carried by the punch holder 54, engages with a stop member 83 and moves the stop member downwardly so that the upper edge thereof willbe flush with the upper edge of the die plate 16 where it is held by a spring actuated latch 86 which has an engaging portion receivable in'a slot 87 of the stop member 83. During the upward movement of the punch holder 5% and thepunch 84, the part 72 which has been formed will be moved free from the die plates 15 and 16 by the spring actuated plunger '18 and allowed to pass free of the apparatus down the slide 88. This operation is continued and controlled by the reciprocatory movement of the punch holder 54, which, due to the cam levers 52 and 53, actuate'the valve 37, upon the up.- stroke of the punch holder for actuating the feeding mechanism so as to move a new part adjacent the stop member 83, and actuate the valve 36,, upon the downstroke of the punch 84,,so as to move another part from the magazine, togetherwith the parts in the passageway 78, forwardly. The yoke 26 is in abutting relation with the latch 86 so as to actuate thelatch andrelease the stop member 83-during the forward movement thereof and before the foremost part has been moved adjacent to the stop member 83. The stop member 83, therefore, positions the part properlyrelative to the die plates 15 and 16 and is lowered so as to allow the formed part to pass freely from the apparatus before it is position the next part to be again released to; for-med. I

Itshould be understood that the feeding mechanism, which has been shown in this embodiment applied to aforming apparatus, can be applied to various typesof processing apparatus and function efi'ciently for the purpose intended. It should also be understood that the apparatus may be adapted tofeed different forms of articles to processing machines merely by changing, the head or a the magazine so as to accommodatethe different articles.

lVith this apparatus merely one power connection is needed andthat connection is for supplying fluid under pressure through the novel arrangement of passageways for admitting the fluid under pressure alternately to the two sides of the piston and for exhaust ing the snent fluid alternately through the same passageways. This novel means for admitting and exhausting the-fluid consists of the arrangement of the passageways 43 and M which communicate with the supply line 7 3 for alternately admitting the fluid under pressure to the sides of the piston 31 andfor alternately allowing the spent fluid to be ex hausted therethrough and into the atmosphere through the communicating ports and 76. Under certain conditions it might be desirable to dispose needle valves in the exhaust ports 75 and 7 6 for the purpose of cushioning the movementof the piston 31. Furfluid to be exhausted from the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston, while the other valve shuts 01f communication with itsadjacent passageways and the fluid supply line a so as to bring about anaccurate, positive and automatic operation of the apparatus.

Although the invention has been described as a material feeding apparatus for a forming machineit is to beunderstood that the mate rial feeding apparatus may be used in cooporation with any other form of processing machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a material feeding apparatus, a valve, means movable in one directionfor actuatposed in ope ing said valve, means responsive to the actuation of said valve for moving articles of manufacture, and means whereby said valve actuating means may be moved in another direction without actuating said valve.

In a material feeding apparatus, means for receiving a plurality or" articles oi manufacture, means adapted to be reciprocated for removin the articles of manufacture singly from said receiving means, valve means,

of manufacture, reciprocating means disposed ad acent said receivmg neans, and

means responsive to the actuation of said valve tormoving said reciprocating means in one direction whereby an article of manufacture may be removed from said receiving means.

i. The combination with a processing apparatus having a movable member, of a cam member carried by said movable member, means actuated by said cam member for mov:

" ing an article of mantacture toward said movable member, a stop member whereby said article of manufacture may be positioned adjacent said movable member, and means for actuating said stop member whereby said article oi manufacture may be moved free of said movable member.

In a material feeding apparatus, a valve casing having an air port therein, a valve disposed of said casing, means responsive to the actuation of said valve for moving an article of manufacture, and means for actuating said valve whereby a fluid under pressure may pass through said port and actuate said article moving means, said port being arranged whereby said fluid may be exhausted therethrough.

6. In a material feeding apparatus, a valve casing having an air port therein, a valve dis posed in said casing, means responsive to the actuation of said valve for moving an article of manufacture, a cam lever having a cam surface adapted to engage with said valve for moving said valve whereby a fluid under pressure may pass through said port and actuate said article moving means when said lever is moved in one direction, and means whereby said lever may be moved in the opposite direction free of said valve whereby said valve may be released.

'7. In a material feeding apparatus, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, valves adapted to be actuated by said valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, means responsive to the actuation of said valves for reciprocating the article moving member, and means whereby said valves may be alternately actuated during the reciprocatory movement of said valve actuating cam levers for actuating said article moving member.

8. In material feedin apparatus, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, valves adapted to be actuated by said valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, means responsive to the actuation of said valves for reciprocating said article movmg member, means whereby said valves may be alternately actuated during the reciprocatory movement of said valve actuating cam levers for: actuating d article moving member, said means compr ing a cam surface of one of said levers adapted to engage with a cam surface oi: one of said valves for actuating said valve when said lever is moved in one direction.

9. In a material feeding apparatus, valve actuatii'i cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, valves adapter to be actuated by said valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, means responsive to the actuation of sair valves for reciprocating said article moving member, means whereby said valves may be alternately actuated during the re ciprocatory movement of said valve actuating cam levers for actuating said article moving member, said means comprising a cam s. "ac of one oi sa d levers adaptedto ena c; a surface of one of said valves f 3 said valve when said lever is ed in one d etcion, and a cam surface of other of said adapted to engage with the cam surface of the other of said valves tor actuating the last named valve when said last named lever is moved in the opposite dircct'on.

10. In a material feeding apparatus, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocatcd, valves adapted to be actuater'l by said valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, means responsive to the actuation of aid valves for reciprocating said article moving member, means whereby said valves may be alternately actuatcc during the reciprocatory movement of said valve actuating cam levers for actuating said article moving member, said means comprising a cam surce of one of said levers adapted to engage v. 1th a cam surface of one of said valves for actuatinp said valve when said lever is mover in one direction, a cam surface o'lthe other ll'lOY flan of said levers adapted to engage with the cam surface of the other of said valves for actuating); the last named valve when the last named lever is moved in the opposite direction, and means whereby said levers may be alternately moved free or" said valves during the reciprocatory movement thereof.

11. In a material feeding apparatus, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated,'valves adapted to be actuated by said valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, responsive to the actuation of said valves for reciprocating said article movcan ing member, means whereby said valves may b alternately actuated during the reciprocatory movement of said valve actuating cam levers for actuating said article moving member, and means whereby said levers may be adjusted relative to said valves for varying the actuation of said valves.

12. In a material feeding apparatus, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, valves adapted to be actuated by saic valve actuating cam levers, an article moving member, means responsive to the actuation of said valves for reciprocating the article mov ing member, means whereby said valves may be alternately actuated during the reciprocatory movement or" said valve actuating cam levers for actuating said article moving member, and means for varying the positions of said levers relative to said valves and relative to each other for varying the actuation of said valves.

13. In a material feeding apparatus, a valve casing having fluid ports therin, valves disposed in said casing and adapted to open and close said fluid ports, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated,means carried by said valve actuating cam levers for alternately actuating said valves during the reciprocatory movement thereof, whereby said ports may alternatelyvreceive a fluid in der pressure and alternately exhaust a spent fluid, and means communicating With said fluid ports for movingarticles of manufacture.

14. In a material feeding apparatus, a valve casing having fluid ports therein, valves disposed in said casing and adapted to open and close said fluid ports, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, means carried by said valve actuating cam levers for alternately actuating said valves during the r reciprocatory movement thereof, whereby said ports may alternately receive a fluid under pressure and alternately exhaust a spent fluid, means communicating wi h said fluid ports for movingarticles of manufacture, said article moving means comprising a cylinder, a piston disposed in said cylinder and adapted to be actuated by the fluid under pressure, and means operatively connected to saidpiston for moving the articles of manufacture. I p y i i 15. In a material feedin apparatus, a valve casing having fluid ports therein, valves disposed in said casing and adapted to'open and close said fluid ports, valve actuating cam levers adapted to be reciprocated, means carder pressure and alternately exhaust a spentfluid, means communicating With said fluid ports for moving articles of manufacture,

said article moving means comprising a cyllnder, a piston d sposed in said cylinder and adapted to be actuated by the fluid under pressure, a yoke operatively connected to said piston, and means carried by said yoke formoving articles of manufacture when said yoke is actuated by said piston.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of January A. D., 1930.

AUGUST s. Lisa 

